Charles d



(No Model.)

0. D. HARRIS.

THERMOSTATIG VALVE REGULATOR.

Patented June 17, 1890;

z 70 I J m c v T 7? V A F m Qmfliwe/aow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. IIARRIS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

TH ERMOSTATIC VALVE-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,578, dated June 17, 1890.

Application filed February '7, 1889. Serial No. 298,998. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES D. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at In- (lianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gas-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in thermostatic gas-regulators adapted to control automatically the flow of gas to a burner used for heating purposes in such manner as to preserve an even temperature in a room or apartment in which the apparatus is used; and my invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing is a sectional view of an apparatusembodying my improvement.

A represents the body of the valve, which has the inlet-opening B, communicating with the 1nlet-pipe,'the outlet-opening O, communlcating with the pipe which leads to the burner, (not shown,) and a valve-seat D between said inlet and outlet openings. A channel E communicates with the openings B C, and a needle-valve F is arranged on one side of a valve-case A and is adapted to control the channel E, as shown. Formed with or attached to the upper end of the valve-case is a disk or flange G. In the upper end of the valve-case is screwed a plug II, having a ver tlcal central opening. To the upper end of the said plug is screwed a cylindrical case I.

K represents a stem or rod, the lower end of which is screwed to a valve L. The said stem or rod passes through and is guided in the opening in the plug H, and the said valve is adapted to close on the valve-seat D. The upper end of the said stem or rod is screwthreaded and engaged by the upper end of a cylindrical sleeve M, which fits down over the cylindrical case I and is adapted to move vertically thereon.

N represents a coiled extensile spring, which is arranged around the upper end of the valve stem or rod, has its lower end bearing against the bottom of the case I, and has its upper end bearing under the upper end of the sleeve M.

0 represents a spherical receiver, having a neck P depending from its lower side and provided with the annular flange or disk R. A diaphragm S is arranged over the lower end of the neck, and in the center of the said diaphragm, on the lower side thereof, is a circular disk T, which is engaged by the upper pointed end of the valve stem or rod. Boltrods U extend through openings in the flanges or disks G R and connect the same together, and on the said bolt-rods are screwed clamping-nuts V, which engage the upper and lower sides of the said flanges or disks, and thereby secure the same rigidly at a suitable distance apart.

In the upper side of the receiver 0 is an opening W, closed by a screw-cap X. From the lower side of the said receiver extends a goose-neck or tube Y, to the outer end of which is secured the lower end of a vertical glass tube Z, of considerable height, the said tube having a longitudinal bore of reduced caliber and having a cup A at its upper end.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Mercury is introduced through the cup or funnel A and tube Z into the goose-neck or curved tube Y, which is thus sealed. The receiver 0 is then filled with alcohol, which is introduced through the opening IV, and the latter is then tightly closed by the plug X. The tension of the spring N, together with the pressure of the gas beneath the valve L,

keeps said valve L normally open. As the gas flows through the valve-seat past the valveLto the burner, the pressure exertedthereby under the valve L, together with the action of the spring N, raises the said valve, and the gas is permitted to flow not only through the channel E, but also through the valve-seat D. \Vhen the temperature of the room becomes raised to an unusual degree, the alcohol in the receiver 0 expands, thereby forcing the column of mercury upward in the tube Z and causing the diaphragm S to be pressed downward, and thereby lowering the valve L toward the valve-seat, partly or entirely closing the latter and proportionately diminishing the quantity of gas which is supplied to the burner. Then the temperature of the room becomes again lowered, the alcohol in the receiver 0 contracts, thus causing the mercury to be lowered in the tube Z. The pressure of the alcohol upon the diaphragm S being thus reduced, the spring N raises the valve L to a corresponding extent, thus openin g the valve-seat and permitting an in creased quantity of gas to be supplied to the burner. It will be understood that no matter what may be the position of the valve L the channel E will remain open, and consequently a sufficient quantity of gas will be supplied to the burner to prevent the flame from going out, It will be seen that when the contents of the receiver expand it will act in two directionsviz., against the diaphragm S and against the seal formed bythe' mercury in the goose-neck Y and tube Z. The mercury contained in the goose-neck or trap Y will be partly displaced and forced into the tube Z I by the expansion of the contents of the rereceiver is then completely filled with alcodicated by the lines I) b.

1101 and sealed by the cap X. The weight of the alcohol thus introduced will probably displace the mercury seal to the position in- IVhen additional mercury is introduced into the tube Zfor instance, to the level indicated by the line 0 cthe weight of the mercury thus introduced will compress the contents of the receiver 0 until the inner end of the seal reaches a point, which may be indicated by the line 01 d, which leaves ample room for the further contraction of the contents of the receiver O by cold without danger of the mercury entering the receiver. The mercury seal in the trap Y and tube Z, which is always subject to displacement by the expansion of the contents of the receiver 0, forms a safety device to guard against all danger of rupture of the diaphragm S by undue expansion of the contents of the receiver.

I will now describe an improved device adapted to close the gas-channel automatically in the event that the pressure should fail to such an extent as to permit the flame to go out. B represents a case or coupling, which is screwed to the outlet 0 and to the burner-pipe, and is provided with a partition .a shoulder thereon and a shoulder formed on the stem or rod. The valve D, which is slightly tapered in form, has its lower end fitted in the upper end of the recess E, extends through the opening D and has its upper end provided with a flange K, which is adapted to bear upon the valve-seat. said valve is hollow, as shown, and has a minute opening L in its lower end.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: The pressure of the gas is sufficient to normally lift the valve 1 and permit the gas to flow unobstructedly from the valve-case to the burner. If from any reason the gas-pressure should subside, the said valve 1 will immediately drop by its own,

weight and close the seat D, and if the pressure ot' the gas should subsequently rise it could not raise the valve I, for the reason that the lower end thereof will be snugly fitted in the upper end of the recess E. Consequently the supply of gas to the burner will'be entirely checked and none can escape therefrom. In order to again light the flame at the burner, it will be necessary to first raise the valve 1 to establish communication between the burner and the valve-case A, and this may be readily done by pressing up under the stem or rod G, as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In thermostatic gas-regulators, the combination of the valve, the spring to normally open the same, the chamber or receiver filled with alcohol and having the diaphragm S bearing on the valve-stem, and the mercury column exerting pressure on the alcohol, sub stantially as described.

2. The combination, in a thermostatic gasregulator, of the valve, the receiver 0, adapted to contain alcohol and having the diaphragm I S, for the purpose set forth, the bent tube Y,

communicating with said receiver, and the tube Z, adapted to contain a column of mercury and having its lower end communicating with the tube Y, substantially as described.

3. In a gas-regulating valve, the case A, having seat D, and channel E,in combination with the valve L, adapted to close the said seat, and means to operate the said valve,

, substantially as described.

4:. The combination of the valve-case A, having inlet-opening B, outlet-opening 0, seat D between said openings, and channel E, also communicating with said openings, the needle-valve F to control said channel E, and the valve L, adapted to close on the seat D, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the valve-case A, provided with aflange or disk G, the receiver 0, having the flange or disk R, the neck P, and a diaphragm S, closing the lower end of said neck, the bolt-rods connecting the disks or flanges G R, the valve L, adapted to close the seat D and having the stem or rod K The ICC

IIO

bearing under the diaphragm,,and the spring to normally raise the said valve, substantially as described.

6. The case B, having partition C and opening D, in combination with the gravityvalve 1' in said opening and adapted to seat itself on the said partition, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

7. The case B, having partition 0 with opening D, and recess E below said opening, in combination with the gravity-valve I in the opening D, adapted to seat itself on the partition and having its lower end in the recess E, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the case B, having partition 0' with opening D, and recess E below said opening, with the gravity-valve I in the opening D and having its lower end 111 the recess E, and the spring-pressed rod or stem G, adapted to engage and raise the said valve, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the case B, having the partition 0 with opening D, and the gravity-valve in said opening, and having the flange K at its upper end, substantially as described.

10. A thermostatic gas-regulator in which the action of the valve controlling the flow of gas is governed by the expansion and contraction of a body of fluid contained in a casing having a diaphragm against which the valve-stem rests, the pressure being augmented and regulated bya column of mercury contained in a tube connected with the casing, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. HARRIS.

WVitnesses:

WM. H. HALL, H. A. CUMMINGS. 

